The Australian Indigenous Geographical Classification (AIGC) aims to provide a geographical standard for the publication of statistics about the Indigenous population of Australia.

The first edition of this classification was produced for the 1996 Census. The classification comprises four levels of geographic units in a single hierarchy, the smallest unit being the Census Collection District (CD). CDs aggregate to form Indigenous Locations (ILOCs), which in turn aggregate to form Indigenous Areas (IAREs). Indigenous Areas aggregate to Indigenous Regions (IREGs). At each level of the hierarchical structure, the component spatial units collectively cover the whole of geographic Australia without gaps or overlaps.

IREGs don't cross State/Territory borders, except in the case of the IREG of Queanbeyan which crosses the borders of New South Wales and Jervis Bay Territory (Other Territories).

Statistics from the 2006 Census are available for all levels of the classification.

The three Indigenous Geographic units are described below. For a detailed description of CDs, please refer to Statistical Geography Volume 1 Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0).

INDIGENOUS REGIONS

General Description

The Australian Government uses 30 Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICC) and the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) to manage the delivery of a range of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. For census purposes, the ABS defines Indigenous Regions (IREG) based on ICC and TSRA areas. Some ICC Regions are split into two IREGs.

IREGs cover in aggregate, the whole of Australia without gaps or overlaps. IREGs have replaced ATSIC Regions used to disseminate Indigenous data from the 1996 and 2001 censuses. IREGs are comprised of several Indigenous Areas.

For completeness, an additional IREG has been created for each state and the Northern Territory for people in Off-Shore, Shipping and Migratory CDs.

IREG names and codes

For the 2006 Census, 45 IREGs are defined to cover the whole of geographic Australia. This includes those CDs classified as Off-Shore, Shipping and Migratory and named "Indigenous Region not stated" for each state, the NT and OT.

The IREG names used in the classification are the same as those determined for the official area by the relevant legislation. Each IREG is allocated a two-digit code starting from 01. The IREG first digit code 9 is reserved for the "Indigenous Region not stated" in each state/territory, except ACT, as follows:

91 NSW Indigenous Region not stated

92 Vic. Indigenous Region not stated

93 QLD Indigenous Region not stated

94 SA Indigenous Region not stated

95 WA Indigenous Region not stated

96 Tas. Indigenous Region not stated

98 NT Indigenous Region not stated

99 OT Indigenous Region not stated

The IREG codes are unique throughout Australia.

Example:

33 Apatula

34 Nhulunbuy

35 Tennant Creek

36 Darwin

98 NT Indigenous Region not stated

INDIGENOUS AREAS

General Description

An IARE is a medium sized spatial unit which enables the production of detailed census statistics relating to Indigenous people while maintaining the confidentiality of individuals. They generally include a minimum of around 300 Indigenous people and comprise one or more Indigenous Locations. Generally Indigenous Areas align with local government boundaries taking into account the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population distribution.

IARE names and codes

For the 2006 Census, 542 IAREs are defined. The IARE name allocated by the ABS is based upon a distinctive name for the area which the boundary encompasses. Equivalent ASGC names are used where the area concords exactly.

The code structure for the IAREs is a three-digit code allocated to each IARE within an IREG. IARE codes must be preceded with the two digit IREG code to be unique within the classification.

The IARE count includes those IAREs comprising CDs classified as Off-Shore, Shipping and Migratory and named "Off-Shore Areas & Migratory" for each state, the NT and OT. These are coded as follows:

91001 NSW Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

92001 Vic. Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

93001 QLD Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

94001 SA Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

95001 WA Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

96001 Tas. Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

98001 NT Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

99005 OT Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

Example:

16 001 Cardwell (S)

16 003 Hinchinbrook (S)

16 005 Palm Island (S)

...

25 001 Port Hedland (T)

25 003 Karratha

25 005 Roebourne (S) excl. Karratha

INDIGENOUS LOCATIONS

General Description

An ILOC is an area designed to allow the production of summary census statistics, in particular those relating to Indigenous people while maintaining the confidentiality of individuals. Generally, an ILOC includes at least 100 Indigenous people and can comprise one or more CDs.

ILOC names and codes

The ILOC name allocated by the ABS is based upon a distinctive name for the area which the boundary encompasses. Equivalent ASGC names are used where the area concords exactly. The code structure consists of two-digit codes being allocated to each ILOC in an IARE beginning at 01. ILOC codes must include the IARE and IREG code to be fully unique within the classification.

For the 2006 Census, 846 ILOCs are defined. Eight ILOCs are defined for Off-Shore, Shipping and Migratory CDs, one in each state, the NT and OT. These are coded as follows:

9100101 NSW Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9200101 Vic. Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9300101 QLD Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9400101 SA Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9500101 WA Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9600101 Tas. Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9800101 NT Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

9900501 OT Off-Shore Areas & Migratory

Example:

25011 07 Newman

25011 09 Punmu

25011 11 Kunawarriji

25011 13 Parngurr

25011 15 Kiwirrkurra

25011 17 East Pilbara Rem.

Please see Appendix 6 for a full listing of IREG, IARE and ILOC codes and labels.

Maintenance

For this edition of the Australian Indigenous Geographical Classification, the IREGs, IAREs and ILOCs were redesigned reflecting changes in Commonwealth Indigenous administrative arrangements. The AIGC is only defined in the census year.

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.